A custodian at St.
Patrick Catholic Church found a loaded handgun on church property on
Saturday, Chesterton Police said.

According to
police, at 1:16 p.m. the custodian was working outside when he “noticed
something shiny in the grass between the rectory and the school.” The object
proved to be a Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight .38 caliber revolver.

The custodian, in
an attempt to secure the revolver, thumbed what he took to be the handgun’s
manual safety. “To his surprise, he accidentally fired a round into the
ground,” police said. “That is when he realized the tab on the left side of
the frame was the cylinder release, not a manual safety.”

The revolver was
loaded with four intact cartridges and the empty one which had just been
discharged, police said. The type of cartridge--bearing the Starline Brass
logo--led the investigating officer to speculate that the ammunition had
possibly been handloaded.

“An inquiry on the
make, caliber, and serial number returned no ‘hits,’” police said. “It is
possible that the handgun was recently stolen and has not yet been
reported.”